Academy scholar Monty Patterson has been named in host nation New Zealand’s squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup which starts later this month.
New Zealand begin their group games when they face Ukraine in Auckland on May 30th before taking on the USA on June 2nd, also in Auckland, and finally Myanmar in Wellington on June 5th.
Coach Darren Bazeley says his squad will face tough opposition: "It’s a massive challenge for us at this level. We’re going to come up against some of the best players in the world. Almost every player coming from around the world will be professional footballers playing in top leagues.
"But our goal is to make history. No [New Zealand] U20 men’s team has ever won a game at a World Cup so our aim is to be the first team to do that; to win games and qualify out of our group and to play in a way that makes the country proud to watch us.”
Patterson, 18, who plays in midfield or off a main striker, started a two-year scholarship with the Blues last summer and has been capped 12 times at U20 level.
New Zealand have friendlies against Honduras on May 21st and Austria on May 24th prior to the tournament.
New Zealand U20s: Damian Hirst — Wanderers SC, Oliver Sail — Wellington Phoenix, Nik Tzanev — Brentford, Sam Brotherton — Wanderers SC, Cory Brown — Xavier University, Jesse Edge — Vicenza, Brock Messenger — Wanderers SC, Adam Mitchell — Wanderers SC, Deklan Wynne — Wanderers SC, Andre de Jong — Wanderers SC, Moses Dyer — Wanderers SC, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi — Wanderers SC, Clayton Lewis — Wanderers SC, Matthew Ridenton — Wellington Phoenix, Bill Tuiloma (c) — Olympique Marseille, Noah Billingsley — Wanderers SC, Andrew Blake — Wellington Phoenix, Stuart Holthusen — Akron University, Monty Patterson — Ipswich Town, Alex Rufer — Wellington Phoenix, Joel Stevens — Wellington Phoenix.